HOUSE, 15 DOURO ROAD

Statement of Significance

House,15 Douro Road is a typical weatherboard and iron single storey house dating from 1899. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical workers' houses in the South Fremantle area. The place is an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Bartholomew Daly, a contractor, was a local identity in South Fremantle. He had large stables near his house to accommodate this fleet of horses and he also served as a Councillor for the City of Fremantle for many years.

Physical Description

House,15 Douro Road is a single storey weatherboard and iron house with an asymmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are painted horizontal weatherboards. The roof is hipped with a large gable to one end of the house, with no eaves and clad with corrugated iron. The verandah is under a separate corrugated iron bullnose roof with square timber posts. The front facade is asymmetrical. Three painted brick chimneys are intact. There is a timber picket fence to the front boundary and a small garden area behind.

History

Between 1900 and 1930, Chesterfield was a separate suburb, focused around Douro Road. The street is named for the Duke of Wellington, who was also the Marquis of Douro, after the Battle of the passage of the Douro River in the Peninsular War. Douro Rd meets Marine Tce, which was formerly Wellington Tce. A 1908 PWD drawing shows a Church of England Sunday School on the south-west corner of Douro Road and Walker Streets, and shops to the street frontage on Douro Road on the corners of Thomas, Hulbert (Jane) and Chester streets. Large stables were also located on the south-east corner of Hulbert and Douro Road.
In 1899, Lot 57 was vacant land owned by Dora Cohen and A Armstrong had recently built a cottage on Lot 58. The following year, contractor Bartholomew Daly was living in the cottage on Lot 58 and by 1901/02, Bartholomew had purchased Lots 56, 57, 58 and 59. In this year, the shop on Lot 56 (built c. 1899) was described as an ‘iron shop’, Lot 57 remained vacant, Daly continued to live in the cottage on Lot 58 and had stables built on Lot 59 (corner of Douro and Jane/Hulbert Street).
Bartholomew Daly was born in Ireland c. 1867 and emigrated to South Australia with his parents. He worked for the South Australian Government Service in the Water Works Department and then spent 14 years in Broken Hill in a similar job. He came to Western Australia with C Jobson and commenced contracting. He returned to South Australia after two years, then c. 1900 came back to Western Australia and settled in South Fremantle. He re-established his contracting business known as Daly and Sons from his new Douro Road property and was contracted to the Fremantle Smelting Company to supply flux to the works. He also took on carting contracts for the Fremantle Municipal Council and is credited with introducing the first slag roads in Western Australia. Mr Daly was a Fremantle Councillor from 1909 to 1912, 1917 to 1922 and again from 1925 to 1929. He served on the Fremantle Hospital Board and was first chairman on the United Friendly Societies Council. He was also a member of the Council of the Liberal League of Western Australia.
In 1903/04, a cottage, stables, shed and cart yard were listed as being on lots 56-60 owned by Bartholomew Daly. The property was listed as No. 39 Douro Road in 1908/09. Comparison of plans shows that an extension was made to the house between 1907 and 1954.
By 1930/31, Lots 57 and 58 (later 13-15 Douro Road) were listed as a residence owned by B T Daly. The following year, N Hurley was listed as the occupant. Bartholomew Daly died in 1932 and the property continued to be owned by his estate through the 1930s. For a time, the house (by now listed as 11 Douro Road) was occupied by Gerard Daly.
By 1939/40, the property was owned by Levi and Ada Jones and by 1945/46, by Doris and Charles Bamkin. By now quite large, the house was used by the Bamkins as a family home and lodging house. There were seven large rooms under the main roof and lodgers lived in cubicles on the side verandah.
This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Red: "Significantly contributing to the unique character of Fremantle") It was also included in the "Heritage Study South Fremantle", prepared by John Taylor Architects, for the City of Fremantle, June 1993.
In 1997, the newly renovated house was commended in the City of Fremantle Heritage Awards.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent partially clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability).
Medium degree of authenticity with some original fabric remaining.
(These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This data is provided by the City of Fremantle. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this data, the City of Fremantle makes no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which you might incur as a result of the data being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason. Under no circumstances should this data be used to carry out any work without first contacting the City of Fremantle for the appropriate confirmation and approval.